Top Midlands amateur turns pro by Tom Podmore May 14th 2008

James Flinn, one of the most consistent amateurs in the Midlands during the last decade, makes his long-awaited professional debut in Staffordshire on Friday night (May 16), boxing over four rounds against an opponent to be announced – and feels he can go all the way to the British title. The 26-year-old Coventry light-welterweight boxes on an eight-fight bill put on by First Team (Paul (PJ) Rowson and Errol Johnson) at Burton's atmospheric Meadowside Leisure Centre this week and is expected to make waves after a trophy-filled amateur career that saw him rated at number two in the English rankings and win the Midland ABAs. He also reached the ABA semi-finals in 2002, boxed internationally (for Wales) and holds two eye-catching wins (one by stoppage) over Derby's British light-welterweight title contender Scott Haywood, 18-2 and rated at 13 in BBN's latest domestic rankings. He also holds a victory over touted Northampton crowd-pleaser Jamie Spence, outpointing him in a Midland final. And the former Cassidy Triumph ABC boxer, who has benefited by sparring with Telford's recent English title challenger Mark Lloyd in the weeks leading to his debut, candidly confesses that it's now or never: “If I leave it any longer it will be too late,” conceded the 83-bout unpaid performer to the Coventry Telegraph. “I want to get in there as soon as possible and earn some money. “I want to have something to show my two children for all the years I've been boxing and give them a better life,” continued the popular Tile Hill-based stylist, a fighter who won 32 of his 38 (six defeats) senior amateur outings. “I've seen what's around at 10st and I honestly and truthfully believe that the Lonsdale Belt is easily within my grasp.” And one accusation you could never throw at the Midlander is that he's lazy or shirks a challenge. Only eight days after his 12-minute bout in Burton, Flinn will box on a three-fight dinner show at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena (West Midlands Sporting Club promote). He will see action over four against nine-fight Earls Court-based South African Bheki Moyo, by the way. “I like planting my feet and putting power into my shots rather than trying to score points on the computer. I am also, providing I don't get cut or injured on Friday night, set to box in Coventry on May 24. That is a big motivation for me to do well on my debut,” he added. Heavy-handed Nottingham-based banger Rod Anderton, 10-2-1 (3), challenges for the vacant International Masters light-heavyweight title in the ten-round main event. The Jason Shinfield-trained ticket-seller takes on Birmingham-based Iranian Hamed Jamali, 9-5 (1). Local ticket-seller Jonjo Finnegan, 10-3-3 and who could box the winner of the main bout, returns for the first time since a near career-ending car crash in November over four rounds. Woodville's Duane Parker, 2-0, Duane's older brother, 26-year-old debutant Lee Parker, who beat Matthew Macklin and Martin Concepcion in the vest, Derby's Luke Gallear, 0-2, and Ripley debutant Simon Ivekich, a Shinfield-trained former full-contact kickboxing champion, also box. Popular Tamworth ticket-seller Matt Seawright, 1-6, completes the card, meeting Worcester banger Steve Cooper. Tickets are available from Paul (PJ) Rowson on 07976-283157 or Errol Johnson on 07852-268333.

Go back Comment on this article | Send to a friend | Print

There are no comments. Click here to be the first who comment on this article.